Disappearing gradually and unconsciously in rural China: Research on the sunken courtyard and the reasons for change in Shanxian County, Henan Province

Abstract

a b s t r a c tChina's rural areas have entered an important period of modernization, experiencing the rapid transformation from traditional rural society to modern urban society. In this context, since the 1980s, the rural traditional dwellings with unique local characteristics and ecological advantages encounter an enormous threat. The rapid demolition of famous heritage sites and landscapes easily garners the public's attention, but traditional dwellings in rural areas are gradually disappearing as part of the residents' long-term daily practices. The cave dwelling, "sunken courtyard" (known as "di keng yuan" in Mandarin), is an appropriate subject for interpreting this type of change and cultural transformation. The sunken courtyards are primarily distributed throughout central China, Henan Province, Shanxian County; their unique architectural design method show the characteristics of the Loess Plateau culture. This study adopts qualitative research methods, selecting five study cases in Shanxian County, to discuss the changes in the traditional sunken courtyard and to explore the reasons behind these changes. Based on the literature and preliminary investigation, a formal interview was conducted. The results indicate the causes of the changes in terms of decoration, custom, family structure and policy. Additionally, the key conclusion is that the rural land use policy, the limitations of the sunken courtyard itself, the change in residents' ideas and the lack of proper management are the major reasons for this heritage change phenomenon. This study proffers a method regarding the protection of traditional dwellings to attract attention to the disappearing dwellings and to provide a scientific planning method for them.

Energo koncept Yaodong podzemnih zgrada u XXI veku na teritoriji Srbije

“…raspoređeni su na preostalim (istočnim, zapadnim i južnim) stranama centralnog dvorišta [8][9][10]. Namena svake Yaodong zgrade (Slika 1, Slika 2) je ista [8][9][10][11]: zaštita od vremenskih prilika i neprijatelja, optimizacija ambijentalnog komfora (manja potrošnja energije za grejanje zimi, odnosno za klimatizaciju leti), minimiziranje dodatnog ulaganja energije, vremena i materijala (u fazi izrade i eksploatacije objekata), maksimiziranje korišćenja prirodnih (Sunce, vetar, zelenilo i zemljište) i stvorenih (položaj, oblik i orijentacija zgrade i stvorena mikroklima) parametara lokacije, itd. Zbog niza navedenih pozitivnih karakteristika, koncept Yaodong, kroz popularizaciju i širu implementaciju, mogao bi da bude dodatno sredstvo za prevazilaženje energetskih tranzicija [12,13] u cilju dostizanja održivih razvoja [14], kako na nacionalnim, tako i na globalnim nivoima.…”

“…One se prvenstveno zasnivaju na pristupnim rešenjima centralnom podzemnom dvorištu (Slika 4-8). Yaodong podzemna zgrada ukopana u terenu sa unutrašnjim pristupnim stepeništem[10,11] Yaodong podzemna zgrada ukopana u terenu sa spoljašnjim pristupnim stepeništem[10,11] Yaodong podzemna zgrada ukopana u terenu sa spoljašnjom pristupnom kosinom[10,11] Yaodong podzemna zgrada ukopana u terenu sa tunelskim pristupom[10,11] Yaodong podzemna zgrada ukopana u terenu sa kombinovanim (tunel sa spoljašnjim stepeništem/spoljašnjom kosinom) pristupom[10,11] Unutrašnja prostorna organizacija Yaodong podzemne zgrade ukopane u terenu može se videti na narednim slikama (Slika 9, Slika 10).Dimenzije centralnog podzemnog dvorišta zavise od broja prostorija, tj. od broja članova domaćinstva.…”

Landscapes with locality in urban or rural areas

“…This process has become an important solution to the development problems of environmental systems and the 'human-land' coupling system. 36 Related research includes: (1) Investigating the characterization of adaptability and evolution patterns, including the evolution of road networks influenced by politics, economy and culture 37 ; coevolution of humans and water resources influenced by social economics 38 ; adaptive changes in the way traditional villages in an agricultural society evolve, 39 etc. (2) Identifying elements of adaptability, analysing the adaptive mechanisms and their influencing factors.…”

Architectural Spatial Characteristics of Fujian Tubao from the Perspective of Chinese Traditional Ethical Culture

“…Traditional Chinese architecture, which has evolved gradually over thousands of years of Chinese history, on one hand, has become a cultural and built heritage as an architectural tradition of identity; on the other hand, their historical forms, as traditional imagery, have become archetypes or forms that are reproduced in contemporary architectural design and urban renewal. Traditional Chinese architecture can be divided into official architecture or vernacular architecture, in which the official architecture includes imperial palaces, government office buildings, and other structures that symbolize the ruler's supreme authority and the strength of long-lasting peace and security, and the vernacular architecture is the spontaneous formation of regional architecture by the people, which is adapted to the environment according to the local conditions [11,12]. Chinese traditional architectural culture is based on the philosophical concept of "the unity of heaven and man" and the ethical concept of "coexistence of Li and Yue", which favors idealism.…”